Anthony "Race" Bellinger, Youth 

 

 I have been involved with the youth ministry of Richland Assembly of God since August of 2009. The experience is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding that a person could ever have. I was saved at age 17, and I can't tell you what an incredible feeling it is to know that God is right by your side. Growing up, I didn't really know who God was. I knew what he was, but not WHO he was. As I got older, I started to reject the idea that there was any kind of God at all. That all changed when my girlfriend (who later became my wife) invited me to church to play in the praise and worship band. So there I was, on a stage with my guitar, playing songs I didn't know and actually having a good time with CHRISTIANS!!! However, one of the requirements of being in the worship band was that I had to be saved, and also be able to lead somebody to the Lord through prayer. I honestly thougtht about quitting altogether. After all, I was there to play music, not minister to people. What I learned through all of this was, I had already been doing ministry with my guitar, and I didn't even know it. So I took some time off the team and really reflected on my situaltion with God. It was during worship time that next service, that I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior. From there I spent the next couple of years, playing in the worship band and growing in faith. I was given opportunities to speak to the group, and do devotionals. Believe me, it was by the Holy Spirit alone that I was able to stare 40 other kids down and preach to them. I started to feel a call towards Youth Ministry and also felt God preparing me for the next chapter in my life. My wife Tami and I got married in October of 2008, and were both still very active in our old youth group as sponsors. We were both giving messages and preaching whenever we could, because that is what we love to do. After talking to our Youth Pastor about our desire to continue in Youth Ministry, we recieved a call from Pastor Faughnan at Richland Assembly of God. So here we are today, ready to equip and educate the next generation of  Jesus Freaks...  God Bless!!!